Ball supported device



AM 23, was

w. M. WOODMAN 3,379,454

BALL SUPPORTED DEVICE Filed March 7, 1966 M'Zla's M Ma ma/7a WWW United States Patent 3,379,454 BALL SUPPORTED DEVICE Willis M. Woodman, 27 New Vista Lane, Worcester, Mass. 01605 Filed Mar. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 532,185 3 (Ilaims. (Cl. 28ti-87.04)

This invention relates to a device which may be used in any connection, but herein is described as a vehicle, game, or toy. The main characteristic of this device is that it has a support provided with a spherical ball generally centrally thereof at its lower surface, the ball engaging the ground or floor and the support traveling over the ground or floor as the ball rotates. Alternatively, the

evice can be inverted and materials passed over it in contact with the ball.

The principal object of the invention resides in the provision of means as described which takes advantage of the properties of a rolling ball. For instance by merely tilting the support which is supported by the ball the angle of direction of the support will be varied. The axis is universal. Thus if a person were standing on the support, e can merely lean to one side or the other causing the direction of motion of the device to abruptly change. At the same time he can deliberately push the device to move in any direction in a single plane. A combination of these forces will cause the device to have a very erratic path and some skill will be required for the operator of the device to cause it to follow a desired path which might be for instance straight ahead, to either side and any curve inbetWeen including a circular path or on a path for instance on an are intermediate its spiral. Also by a relatively simple alternate tilting action at either side of the ball, the device can be made to move in a sinuous path and in variations thereof.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device as above described which can be used as a toy, as a cart, as means for moving materials, etc. The invention contemplates the use of the device as a skateboard with either a single ball or possibly two balls in line with each other fore and aft. Furthermore the support mentioned above with a central main ball may have other smaller balls thereon so that when the device tilts to too great a degree it will not dig into the ground, etc., but will ride in tilted condition on a combination of the main central ball and one of the other balls which may be located at the corners of a rectangular support or they may be arranged in a substantial circle about the central ball on a circular or oval support. Many other shapes and devices are also contemplated.

The invention furthermore contemplates the use of power which can be applied to the ball directly as for instance by friction means or the like; and also the use of brakes to be applied to any of the balls aids in the control of the device as to its directional characteristics, to vary its momentum, and also to bring the device to a stop when such is desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view; and

FIG. 4 is a view partly in section of the central ball support, including a modification.

The construction of the present invention or at least the embodiment thereof illustrating the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings is relatively simple and comprises a platform or the like which has a cup 3,379,454 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 12 on the bottom of it, the cup opening downwardly and containing a relatively large ball 14. This cup may be of any construction and may be a single bracket or an inverted cone. The cup or cone is of a nature to extend just past the diameter of the balls so as to hold it from escaping but the ball is easily rotatable within its cup.

There is an annular upward support for the ball as indicated by bearing race 16. The balls in race 16 engage the ball 14 which clearly will rotate freely and easily. Race 16 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball, supports it upwardy and provides -a substantially permanent bearing. A rim 18, slightly smaller than the diameter of the ball holds it from dropping out. This rim is annular and attached to the cup or cone 12 at its periphery as at 20, by any convenient means.

It is to be understood that this invention contemplates the use of the invention with or without the power operated means for driving it, and it may be used simply as a foot powered scooter or the like.

Eccentrically mounted with respect to the center of the device there may be other balls such as at 22 and 24. For instance if the support 19 is oblong there may be two forward balls and a single rearward ball or two rearward balls. This will provide stability for the device. The eccentrically mounted balls are smaller and do not project so far from the surface of support 10 as does the main ball '14, so that it will be seen that the purpose of the device is to have the platform or support 10 movable in any direction in a single plane on the main ball 14 rather than on the smaller ball-s which are for the purpose of control and to prevent the capsizing of support 10 in the case that the device is tilted to too great a degree.

It is a simple matter to apply brakes to any or all of these balls as indicated at 26 where a friction cup or shoe is movable by means of any kind of brake actuating mechanism as may be desired. A simple screw is sufiicient for this purpose, the screw having an offset handle 28 or the like for the purpose of turning it so that the friction cup 26 presses with more or less force on the ball, exerting a braking effect thereon, or a stem 30 can be moved govtinwardly directly, with a spring 32 to move the stern ac t.

The central main ball 14 may be provided with a brake or certain of balls only may be provided with brakes as may be found to be desired or convenient, depending upon the actual use to which the device is to be put. It is preferred to put brakes on the rear balls 24 only, and to use these brakes to steer the device.

Various seats, grab rails, etc. as indicated at 34 may be mounted on the platform or support 10. This device may be in the form of a coaster wagon, skates, skateboard, or any other device or as a dolly for moving materials if this should be desired for transportation of goods of merchandise.

It is well understood that if lateral pressure is applied to a ball it will roll. If pressure is applied to a ball on a fiat surface exactly at ninety degrees along a vertical axis or diameter of a ball, the ball will not move; but if pressure is shifted even very slightly to one side or the other from a normal position, the ball will immediately take ofi and roll in the opposite direction. Thus it will be seen that the support of the present invention is easy to start rolling and is easily controllable. For instance, when used as a skateboard or in any other way, a slight pressure off center on the support will cause the device to start or to move out of its straight forward line of advance and it will curve oil or even go directly laterally, even rearwardly, in circles, etc. or in any combination of the various motions, contrary to the action of rollers or coasters.

On the other hand, if the support it) is in progress, a slight touch on a brake will have a steering effect because a braked rear ball for instance will cause the device to swing about the ball being braked.

It will be seen that the curves or lines of advance of this device are infinite, depending upon the degree of tilt, the degree of application of braking, etc., and furthermore the uses of the device are very extensive extending from the use of it as a toy to the use of it as a commercial vehicle, wagon, cart, etc.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A device of the class described comprising a support, a ball, means holding the ball on the support, said ball forming means guiding the support during motion thereof relative to a supporting surface in any direction and providing for instantaneous changes of direction, the means holding the ball providing for free rolling action of the ball in any direction relative to the support, a bearing about the ball, the bearing being located in said ball holding means, the ball holding means forming an enclosure for a portion only of the ball, said bearing comprising an annular member extending about the ball closely adjacent but just above a diametrical position on the ball, bearing elements in the annular member, and a brake on the support adapted to engage the ball within the annular member.

2. The device of claim 1 including a plurality of rotary elements on the support spaced from the ball, said elements extending from the support a less distance than the ball, and a brake for certain of said rotary elements.

3. The device of claim 1 including a plurality of rotary elements on the support spaced from the ball, said elements extending from the support a less distance than the ball, and a brake for certain of said rotary elements, the latter being balls arranged at one side of the firstnamed ball.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,517,352 12/1924 Foote 280-11.2 2,351,293 6/1944 Saunders 280-8704 2,830,824 4/1958 Young 28079.1 3,252,713 5/1966 Heller 28087.04 3,310,320 3/1967 Hanna et al. 280-8704 1,811,532 6/1931 Benetatos 280-11.1 2,994,545 8/1961 Gass 280-8704 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,215,053 11/1959 France.

494,395 3/1930 German LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED COMPRISING A SUPPORT, A BALL, MEANS HOLDING THE BALL ON THE SUPPORT, SAID BALL FORMING MEANS GUIDING THE SUPPORT DURING MOTION THEREOF RELATIVE TO A SUPPORTING SURFACE IN ANY DIRECTION AND PROVIDING FOR INSTANTANEOUS CHANGES OF DIRECTION, THE MEANS HOLDING THE BALL PROVIDING FOR FREE ROLLING ACTION OF THE BALL IN ANY DIRECTION RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT, A BEARING ABOUT THE BALL, THE BEARING BEING LOCATED IN SAID BALL HOLDING MEANS, THE BALL HOLDING MEANS FORMING AN ENCLOSURE FOR A PORTION ONLY OF THE BALL, SAID BEARING COMPRISING AN ANNULAR MEMBER EXTENDING ABOUT THE BALL CLOSELY ADJACENT BUT JUST ABOVE A DIAMETRICAL POSITION ON THE BALL BEARING ELEMENTS IN THE ANNULAR MEMBER, AND A BRAKE ON THE SUPPORT ADAPTED TO ENGAGE THE BALL WITHIN THE ANNULAR MEMBER. 